02/09/2013 3 Minute Read

Shutouts, Upset and Thrillers on Monday in Taichung

Australia stuns USA – Japan improves to 3-0 – 18 games in two days at XXVI 18U Baseball World Cup

TAICHUNG. After finally getting underway on Sunday, the XXVI 18U Baseball World Cup has upped its pulse at the beginning of the week with 18 games in two days on the schedule. On Monday Australia delivered a first upset, stunning defending champion USA in a pitcher’s duel. Also Japan improved to 3-0 thanks to a pair of shutouts against baseball powerhouses Mexico and Venezuela. Chinese Taipei also entered the win column, sweeping their doubleheader against Czech Republic and Canada. The Maple Leafs also lost to Venezuela and get under pressure midway in the first round. Cuba and Korea also were victorious.

Another nine games are on the program on Tuesday, as organizers still are catching up on last weekend’s rainouts at the 18U Baseball World Cup. Defending champion USA is facing a crucial game day, taking on Korea in the morning and Cuba late in the evening. Australia will try to defend its undefeated record against Italy and Korea. Additionally in Group B the winless Colombia squares off with Cuba in the morning and Italy in the evening. In Group A three games will be played. Chinese Taipei clashes with Venezuela in late afternoon. Mexico plays against Canada. And Japan is heavy favorite versus the Czech Republic.

Mexico 0 – Japan 11

One day after Yuki Matsui’s heroics against Chinese Taipei, Japan received another strong pitching performance against Mexico. Harumi Iida went seven scoreless four-hit innings to lead his team to an 11-0 shutout, which was shortened by ten-run rule. Four runs in the first two frames gave Japan an early advantage. Five in the seventh blew things open.

Canada 5 – Venezuela 7

Canada was in control for pretty much the entire game, but Venezuela once again woke up late and celebrated a second straight comeback win. They scored three runs in the top of the ninth to turn a 4-5 deficit into a 7-5 victory. They took advantage of a safety squeeze and a balk to plate the two decisive runs. An error had helped to tie the game. The outcome overshadowed Tyler O’Neills monster three-run home run, which put Canada in front in the third.

Czech Republic 0 – Chinese Taipei 16

Chinese Taipei scored nine runs in the first inning to down the Czech Republic 16-0 in the morning game at Intercontinental Stadium. Chia-Ming Tu and Yun-Wen Chen combined in a two-hit shutout. Six players scored and least twice.

Korea 4 – Colombia 0

Se Woong Park struck out ten batters and combined with four relievers in a one-hitter to lead Korea to a 4-0 shutout over Colombia at Dou-Liou Stadium in the afternoon. Korea scored all four runs in the first three innings and escaped a bases loaded situation in the ninth to end the game.

Cuba 15 – Italy 0

Cuba had not much trouble with Italy in a 15-0 victory at Taichung City Stadium in the afternoon. They scored five runs in the second and seven in the third. Yoan Moncada highlighted the game with a bases clearing triple. Two more players had three RBI in the game, as Cuba’s offense clicked on all cylinders and collected 15 hits in just six innings.

Australia 1 – USA 0

Australia handed Team USA a 1-0 loss in a true pitcher’s duel at Intercontinental Stadium, capturing the first upset at the XXVI 18U Baseball World Cup. Lewis Thorpe, Lachlan Madden and Shaun Wright combined to keep the American bats in check. Sam Kennelly scored the lone run of the game on a single in the bottom of the second.

Japan 7 – Venezuela 0

In the evening game at Dou-Liou Stadium Japan captured its second shutout of the day, downing Venezuela 7-0. Tomohiro Anraku struck out 16 of the 30 batters he faced in nine scoreless two-hit innings to lead the way. Hit battery mate Tomoya Mori went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a sac fly and three RBI.

Mexico 12 – Czech Republic 2

Mexico overcame some early struggles to earn its first win in the tournament by defeating the Czech Republic 12-2 in seven innings at Taichung City Stadium. Czech shortstop Adam Hajtmar missed a momentum-changing hit in the bottom of the fifth by a couple of inches and the European team’s pitching completely fell apart in an eight-run seventh blowing the score wide open.

Canada 2 – Chinese Taipei 4

In the evening game Chinese Taipei edged out Canada 4-2, handing the runner up from last year’s 18U Baseball World Cup a second tough loss on the day. Chinese Taipei twice stopped Canada’s tying run with plays at the plate. Wen-Hua Sung struck out the side in the ninth to complete an impressive three-inning save.

Schedule

Tuesday, September 3, 2013